Jao Pho Phraya Lae Monument

A nondescript monument

What we say:

In the middle of a roundabout in the centre of town on Bannakan Road, the statue is testament to the eighteenth century Lao ruler of Chaiyaphum, who switched sides to fight with Bangkok when Vientiane declared war on Siam at the start of the next century. Jao Pho Phraya Lae lost his life in the ensuing battles, but was kept in high esteem in Chaiyaphum and today has two annual festivals celebrated in his name in January and May.